USN USS FORREST SHERMAN

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Admiral Forrest Sherman, and is the second US Navy ship to bear the name. Built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Forrest Sherman was launched on 2 October 2004. Admiral Sherman’s daughter, Ann Sherman Fitzpatrick, is the ship’s sponsor. She was commissioned on 28 January 2006 at NAS Pensacola and six days later departed for her homeport in Norfolk, Va. to join the Atlantic Fleet. She departed Norfolk for her maiden deployment in July 2007, visiting various nations around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, as well as circumnavigating the continent of Africa. She returned to homeport in December of that year.

In August 2007, while the ship was visiting Sevastopol to conduct drills with the Ukrainian Navy, a 1,100 pound mine from World War II was discovered 500 yards from the vessel. The mine was secured before it could damage the ship. In early June 2008, Forrest Sherman deployed for three months in support of U.S. Southern Command’s Partnership of the Americas 2008 (POA 08) operation. She returned home on 29 August 2008.